Spragger for mine-cars.



PATENTED SEPT. 4, 1906.

s. SLUDER. SPRAGGER FOR MINE'OARS.

APPLICATION II'LED JUNE 14, 1908.,

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SANTFORD SLUDER, OF COALMONT, INDIANA.

SPRAGGER FOR MINE-CARS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 4, 1906.

Application filed June 14,1906. Serial No. 32l.'723.

To all whom it Wan/y concern:

Be it known that I, SANTFORD SLU'DER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Coal- I'nont, in the county of Clay and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in spraggers for Mine-Cars, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to an improvement in mine-car brakes, and more particularly to that type of brake known as a spragger, in which a sprag bar or bars are adapted to be projected between the spokes of the wheel or wheels of the car to lock the same against movement.

The object of the present invention is the provision of improved mechanism for actuating the sprag-bars.

A further object of the invention is the provision of means for locking the sprag-bars in various positions of adjustment.

A further object of the invention is the provision of antifriction devices which are secured to the spokes of the car-wheel to facilitate the projection and withdrawal therebetween of the sprag-bars.

Other objects of the invention will be apparent from the detail description hereinafter when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof, wherein a preferable embodiment of my in vention is shown and wherein like numerals of reference refer to similar parts in the several views.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a mine-car equipped with my improved spragger. Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view thereof. Fig. 3 is an end view. Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view of one of the wheels of my improved mine-car, showing the antifriction devices secured to the spokes thereof.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, A designates a mining-car, which may be of any suitable construction and which is provided with the supportingwheels B. Slidably secured in any suitable manner to the under side of the car A on opposite sides thereof are the transversely-movable spraggers C. The spraggers C, which are preferablyformed of a single piece of metal, each com rise the sprag-bars c c, the free ends of which extend in proximity to the outer edge of the car-body and are adapted to be projected between the spokes of the front and rear wheels of the car when the spragger is moved outwardly and the interloop 0 The side bars 0 are made somewhat longer than the side bars 0, so that the spragger may be actuated to engage but one wheel of the car, if desired. Journaled in suitable bearings secured to the sides of the car are the actuating-shafts D, which extend the full length of the car and terminate in the upwardly-extending cranked portions d, which are provided with suitable foot-pieces d,

ator standing upon the end of the car' The end walls of the cars are provided adjacent their upper edges with handholds E of any suitable construction, accessible to the hand of an operator standing upon the end of the car. The actuating-shafts D are provided intermediate the ends thereof with the upwardly-extending cranked portions (1 which are adapted to lie alongside the sides of the normal positions and the upper ends of which terminate in suitable eyes or loops (P.

E designates a pair of links, the outer extremities of which are loosely connected to the eyes (1" of the cranked portions (1 of the actuating-shaft D and the eyes 0 of the intermediate arms 0 of the spraggers C. The links E are bent intermediate the ends. thereof at substantially right angles, so that when the actuating-shafts D are in their normal position one arm of said links will lie alongside the sides of the car and the other arm of said links will lie alongside the under side of the car-bottom. From this construction it will be seen that an operator standing upon either end of the car may by depressing the foot-pieces (1 cause the spraggers C to be moved outwardly to project the extremities of the sprag-bars c and 0 thereof between the spokes of the wheels B. The actuatingshafts D are provided adjacent one end thereof with the cranked portions (1", which are adapted to lie flat against the sides of the car when the spraggers C are in their retracted position. The actuating-shafts D are maintained in various positions of adjustment by locking devices, each of which comprises a plate F, the upper end of which is loosely secured to the side of the car by a staple f and the lower end of which is arranged to overlie mediate arm 0 which terminates in an eye or which are accessible to the foot of an opercar when the actuating-shafts are in their the cranked portiond of theactua'ting shaft D. The plate F is provided intermediate the ends thereof with an elon ated slot f which is adapted to receive a b0 t f which projects laterally from the side of the car. Interposed between a nut secured on the projecting end of the bolt f 2 and the plate F is a coil-spring f which serves to normally hold the, plate flat against the side of the car, thereby retaining the spraggers in their retracted posi tion. The lower end of the plate F projects below the actuating-shaft D for a slight distance and is beveled upon its inner side.

G designates a spring which is secured to the side of the car and which is provided with an arm which bears against the top of the plate F and serves to normally press the same downwardly. The plate F bears against the cranked portion 61 of the actuating-shaft D with sufficient strength to hold the same in any position to which it may be adjusted, so that the shaft may be rocked a slight distance only if it is desired to throw but one of the spra '-bars into engagement with the spokes o the wheel. When, however, the cranked portion of the actuating-shaft is moved a sufficient distance by the foot of the operator to throw both of the sprag-bars between the spokes of the front and rear wheels, the cranked portion (1 will be drawn out from beneath the plate F, whichwill at once, owing 'to the coil-springf be thrown inwardly so as to overlie said cranked portion, and thereby prevent the sprag-bars from being accidentally retracted. When the cranked portions d of the actuating-shaft D are elevated to retract the sprag-bars, the cranked portion d of the shaft will contact with the bottom edge of the plate but as the same is longitudinally movable it will give a sufficient amount to permit said cranked portion to ride therebeneath.

In devicesof this character some difficulty has been heretofore experienced in introducing and withdrawing the sprag-bars, owing to the great amount of friction between the same and the spokes of the car-wheel, particularly when the car was heavily loaded. To obviate this difficulty, I provide the spokes of the wheels B on opposite sides thereof with recesses or pockets b, in which are rotatably mounted friction-rollers b, with which the sprag-bars contact when projected or withdrawn between the spokes of the wheel.

I do not desire to limit myself to the precise form and construction shownin the drawings, as it is obvious that many minor changes might be made thereto without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What I claim is- 1. In a brake for mine-cars, a transverselymovable sprag-bar secured to the under side of the car adapted to be projected between the spokes of one of the wheels thereof, an actuating-shaft journaled in bearings secured 6 to one side of the car and having a crank por tion, and a connection between the cranked portion of the actuating-shaft and the spragbari 2. In a brake for mine-cars, a transverselymovable sprag-bar secured to the under side of the car and adapted to be projected between the spokes of one of the wheels of the car, an actuating-shaft adjacent one side of the car and extending longitudinally thereof, said actuating-shaft being provided with a cranked portion intermediate the ends thereof and an actuating-handle at one end thereof, and a link connecting the cranked portion of the actuating-shaft and the sprag-bar.

3. In a brake for mine-cars, a transversely movable sprag-bar secured to the under side of the car and adapted to be projected between the spokes of one of the wheels thereof, an actuating-shaft arranged at one side of the car and extending longitudinally thereof, and a connection between the actuating-shaft and the sprag-bar.

4'. In a brake for mine-cars, a transverselymovable sprag-bar secured to the under side of the car and adapted to be projected between the spokes of one of the wheels thereof, an actuating-shaft positioned at one side of the car and extending longitudinally thereof, a connection between the actuating-shaft and the sprag-bar, and means for locking said shaft in various positions of adjustment.

5. In a brake for mining-cars, a transversely-movable spra -bar secured to the under side of the car and adapted to be projected between the spokes of one of the wheels thereof,- an actuating-shaft positioned at one side of the car and extending longitudinally thereof, said actuating-shaft being provided with an offset portion, a connection between the actuating-shaft and the sprag-bar, and a spring-pressed plate secured to one side of the car and arranged to overlie the offset portion of the actuating-shaft.

6. In a brake for mine-cars, a transverselymovable sprag-bar secured to the under side of the car and adapted to be projected between the spokes of one of the wheels thereof, an actuating-shaft extending longitudinally of the car and projecting beyond one end thereof, the projecting end of said shaft be ing provided with a cranked portion accessible to the foot of an operator standing on the end of the car, and a connection between the actuated shaft and the sprag-bar.

7. In a brake for mine-cars, a transverselymovable sprag-bar secured to the under side of the car and adapted to be projected be tween the spokes of one of the wheels thereof, an actuating-shaft arranged at one side of the car and extendin longitudinally thereof, said actuating-shaft havin a cranked portion adapted to normally lie alongside the side of the car, and a link connecting the cranked portion of the actuating-shaft and the sprag-bar.

8. In a' brake for mine-cars, a transversely- Inovable sprag-bar secured to the under side of the car and adapted to be projected between the spokes of one of the wheels thereof, an actuating-shaft for said sprag-bar positioned at one side of the car and having an oflset portion, and a longitudinally-movable spring-pressed plate secured to one side of the car and arranged to overly the oflset portion of the actuating-shaft.

9. In a brake for mine-cars, a pair of transversely-movable sprag-bars secured to the under side of the car and adapted to be projected between the spokes of the front and rear wheels thereof, a longitudinally-disposed actuating-shaft positioned at one side of the car, and a connection between the actuatingshaft and the sprag-bars.

10. In a brake for mine-cars, a pair of transversely-movable sprag-bars secured to the under side of the car and adapted to be projected between the spokes of the front and rear wheels thereof, a longitudinally-disposed actuating-shaft(positioned at one side of the car and provide with a cranked portion, and a link connecting the cranked portion of the actuating-shaft and the sprag-bars.

11. In a device of the character described, a wheel havin antifriction devices secured to the spokes tl iereof, and a sprag-bar adapted to be projected between the spokes of said wheel. I

12. In a device of the character described, a wheel havin antifriction-rollers journaled in the spokes thereof, and a sprag-bar adapted to be projected between the spokes of said wheel.

13. In a device of the character described, a wheel having pockets formed in the spokes thereof, antifriction-rellers j ournaled in said pockets, and a sprag-bar adapted to be projected between the spokes of said wheel.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

SANTFORD SLUDER.

Witnesses:

JAooB T. SLUDER, LEWIS W. ROGERS. 

